PM launches Fiji's National Development Plan at COP 23

Prime Minister and COP 23 President Voreqe Bainimarama says adaptation, resilience and mitigation are not just a part of development plans but they form the very core.

Bainimarama highlighted this while launching Fiji's National Development Plan at COP 23 in Bonn Germany.

He says the National Development Plan provides a forward-looking vision for transforming Fiji into an even more progressive, vibrant and inclusive society.

Bainimarama says the 5 year and 20 year Plan was launched at the margins of COP23 because global warming and the threat of climate change were fundamental factors that informed the Government's research, guided their work and helped define their priorities.

The Prime Minister says in putting the Plan together, the government held extensive consultations in 800 forums to ensure that it meets the consensus aspirations of all the Fijian people.

He says some of the key national actions that the Plan will aspire to achieve is that Fijians will have access to clean and safe drinking water in adequate quantities by 2031, to ensure that all Fijians have access to electricity by 2021, include a strategy that will make housing more affordable for all Fijians and reducing unemployment.

Bainimarama says Fiji’s population is projected to exceed 1.1 million in the next 20 years, and the vast majority will live in towns and cities.

He says the future development will be balanced to ensure a sustainable rural economy, highly livable urban centres with modern facilities and services.

Bainimarama says Fiji will strengthen its existing capacities in areas like early‑warning systems, weather‑forecasting services, urban planning and development.

He says new building standards and innovative traffic‑management plans that ease congestion will be major components in urban planning.

Bainimarama adds that the rural communities will be made more resilient to the threats of climate change and natural disasters by improving infrastructure and providing adequate utilities.

He says Fiji is raising the standard of health and medical services by building modern healthcare facilities and recruiting more qualified healthcare professionals as there is a plan to have 1 doctor per 1,000 Fijians by 2021.